Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, Paramount does. But I do own this story.
Summary: A natural disaster on an alien planet separates Tom Paris from his crew. Can they find him in time to save his life, or will Tom die like the others in the disaster? This is NOT part of my series.
Timeline: Set between Natural Law and Homestead, better known as the later 7th season, roughly 5 episodes away from the end (including Endgame)
Rated: T (PG-13)
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Horror Days
"I'm going to be a father, do you really want any kid growing up without a dad?" Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris asked the opposing man.
"Many children on our planet grow up without a parent." The man replied sternly.
The two men were holding weapons at each other. Paris was holding his phaser, pointing it at the shorter man's head. And the opposing man, Iliahino, had his weapon -similar in design to Tom's phaser- pointed at his opponent's head.
"Would you want your kids to grow up like that?" Tom asked the man indicating his children watching through the house's window.
Iliahino looked at the strange alien standing in front of him wondering if the man was really worth killing. "Sitgora," he called over his shoulder to his wife. "take the kids away from the window…don't let them watch." His wife was about to say something, but knew better than to argue over it.
"My children will not watch your murder." Iliahino said to the Lieutenant.
The two did not know each other's names, but each knew that the other one was an enemy. A very dangerous enemy.
"I'm going to warn you for the very last time, put the weapon down or I will kill you." Tom repeated to the man. "My phaser's only settings are kill and vaporize. Which one would you prefer?" Tom asked sarcastically.
"And my weapon's only setting is kill." Iliahino replied to the Lieutenant. "But it is a rather slow and painful death I might say."
Rinkala -the reporter Tom Paris had met- was standing behind Tom. Rinkala was shorter than the rest of his species, the Petrinnens. They're whole species was green skinned, orange eyed aliens with spiky forehead ridges like the young Naomi Wildman's. Rinkala was a reporter for the world's natural disaster news. He had said that there were many stories he has covered about the common natural disasters like the one the Lieutenant had just recently encountered.
Rinkala knew he had to do something quick or Tom Paris, a friend he considered, would die and he would probably die soon after. Rinkala took a step back making the deck's board creek rather loud. And that's where it happened in both slow motion and too fast.
Between the Lieutenant and Iliahino one turned his face to look at the reporter. And the other fired their weapon at the enemy. One of them fell to the ground; not moving at all.
7 Days Before…
"I'm sorry, Captain," 'Erinson' –or president- Lerik of Petrin started to Captain Kathryn Janeway. "But we since our environmental stability are not enough for this world; any transportation at all to and from the surface is prohibited. I'm sure you wouldn't want the environment of our world to cause sudden weather changes that could become serious…It is difficult to even keep the communication system working at all."
"Of course not, Erinson Lerik, we wouldn't want to cause such problems for your world." The Captain answered. The two were communicating on the Bridge of the USS Voyager through the view screen. Janeway stopped pacing the Bridge and smiled at Lerik. "Where we come from, Earth, we have an environmental system that helps prevent natural disasters and dangerous storms. I believe we could have the design sent to us from home and we could help you get started in building that system."
"Why, Captain that would be excellent! We could possibly even send a delegate from Petrin to visit." Lerik replied enthusiastically.
"I'll have me and several of my crew come down to the planet." Kathryn smiled at the green man's enthusiasm. "We do need to check out some of those markets others have been talking about."
"I will see you soon, Captain." Lerik smiled again. "Goodbye."
And with that, the image of Erinson Lerik was cut off. Lerik was a tall green man with orange eyes and blue hair. Along with his cranial ridges, it seemed like he was a really odd looking cartoon with too much color.
"Chakotay," Janeway said turning to face her first officer. "I'm leaving you in charge, while Tuvok, Mr. Paris, Mrs. Torres, Neelix, several engineers, and I head off to Petrin. We'll be leaving in five hours-" Janeway looked at Tuvok whom nodded then looked at her first officer again. "-that is of course after I inform Mr. Paris, Mrs. Torres, those engineers, and Neelix where we're going." Janeway and Chakotay smiled at each other.
"Are you sure you want to bring them?" Chakotay asked. Janeway looked at him oddly. "The last time Tom and B'Elanna were on a shuttle together, it lost its warp core. Need I remind you about the time before that?" He was referring to the shuttle explosion on the Day of Honor several years earlier.
"That was when they were alone Chakotay," Janeway said smiling. "the only time these two will be alone is when we get back from the trip." Chakotay smiled back at his superior officer. "Now, if you don't mind me, I'm going to save me a small trip and call them up to the briefing room."
"Janeway to Lieutenant's Paris and Torres and Mr. Neelix, please report to the Briefing room immediately to prepare for an away mission." The Captain said over her commbadge.
"Did you hear that, B'Elanna?" Lieutenant Tom Paris said to his wife –Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres- from across the Mess Hall table. "It's going to be baby's first away mission. And our first official family away mission." Tom smiled at his beautiful wife.
"The Captain's probably only going to consult me on who should be taken on the away mission." B'Elanna replied to her handsome husband. He stared at her intently with his blue eyes.
"Oh come on, I was on the Bridge earlier, the Petrinnens are a kind and friendly race." Lieutenant Paris responded to his wife.
"I've heard that said before…" B'Elanna muttered under her breath. But Tom heard it and smiled at his wife as they left the Mess Hall with Neelix close behind them.